Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri has stated the main reason behind “Giants of Africa” program, which he founded, is aimed at touching children in Africa that play basketball.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Basketballghana.com, the Nigerian native was happy with the level of commitment, intensity and discipline from individuals as the program rounded up in Ghana after making a stop in Senegal.
“We are trying to use basketball as a tool to really touch kids in Africa that play the sport and when I started as a youth, there were not many camps, not many clinics that you could attend and so we started Giants of Africa and you look for talents but you look to see how you can help kids more to not only become great basketball players but off the court become good persons and that was our goal” he said.
Director of Business Operations Godwin Owinje was on hand to receive a Meritorious Award on behalf of Ujiri at the 2016 Ghana Basketball Awards for his immense contribution to developing the game on the continent.
The two day program in the fledgling West African basketball nation had 50 young participants taken through several basketball drills by former players and coaches and will make stops in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Botswana.
Since its creation in 2003, Giants of Africa has successfully secured over 80 Africans enrollment to high schools and universities in the U.S.
